What to Know: Green Bay Packers release punter Pat O’Donnell
By Paul Bretl
With the Green Bay Packers needing to go from 90 players down to 53 by Tuesday’s afternoon deadline, their first reported roster cut has been made with the team releasing veteran punter Pat O’Donnell.
O’Donnell signed as a free agent during the 2022 offseason. His numbers from last season as a punter don’t leap off the page by any means, finishing in the middle or even bottom half of the league in a number of categories, including yards per punt (25th) hangtime (28th), and punts inside the 20 yard line (18th)—which, in part, is likely a factor in why the team is moving on from him right now. He did, however, provide some stability to the position, specifically as a holder on field goal attempts.
In O’Donnell’s place, the Packers will be going with rookie Daniel Whelan, who spent the spring punting in the XFL before signing with Green Bay. What’s evident when watching Whelan is that he packs some power, which was on display in the final preseason game with the Packers backed up in their own territory and Whelan sending the ball 58 yards in the other direction.
"“He’s done a heck of a job since we’ve gotten him,” said Matt LaFleur. “He definitely has a big time leg. And it’s great. You want competition at every position, because it’s going to push us to be better.”"
The Packers are already relying on a rookie kicker in Anders Carlson, so there is certainly some risk involved in adding a rookie holder to that equation. However, when meeting with the media last week, Rich Bisaccia did say that Whelan had improved as a holder throughout training camp. At a number of positions, the Packers seem prepared to weather the ups and downs that come with relying on young players, and punter is no different.
This move may come as a bit of a surprise, but it shouldn’t be a major one either. Given where the Packers are this season with a young roster as they make the transition to Jordan Love, it makes sense to see what they have in Whelan and if he can be a long-term answer at the position, rather than holding on to O’Donnell for one more season and then potentially be looking for a punter once again in 2024.
Also, in moving on from O’Donnell, the cap-strapped Packers create $1.5 million in salary cap space for the 2023 season in going with Whelan’s smaller contract.
To stay up to date with all of the upcoming roster cuts the Packers will make, click here.